William h



(No Model.)

W. H. BIRCK & W. FISCHER.

SUSPENDED SGAFPOLD.

No. 346,019. Patented July 20, 1886.

WITNESSES u. pz'rzizs Pholo-LiMr-pher. Wl-Mnghn. 0,1:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BIROK AND WILLIAM FISCHER, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN HARRINGTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,019, dated July 20. 1886.

Application filed March 12, 1886. Serial No. 194,952. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. BIRCK and \VILLIAM FISCHER, both citizens of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Pivoted Guard for Suspended scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in 1 suspended scaffolds in which a guard is pivoted on the side foremost from the building against which it rests, and which guard is capable of being turned down so as to rest on the scaffold; and the objects of our improvements are to provide a means whereby the danger of workmen falling from the scaffold 1's obviated, and to provide a guard that can be readily placed in a position so as not to encumber the shipping of the scaffold.

29 Scaffolds of the class to which our invention relates have been until the last fewyears made of an ordinary ladder; but they are now made by connecting two longitudinal beams by crosspieces, and on these crosspieces are placed longitudinal planks, which constitute the flooring of the scaffold, which cross pieces act both to keep the longitudinal beams in position and to support the flooring. In their ordinary condition these scaffolds 0 offer no protection from falling to the workmen should they inadvertently step too far backward. Our invention could also be placed on the two ends of the scaffold, leaving no possibility of accident. Our guard is 5 also useful as a means for holding or suspend ing the various materials and utensils used by the workmen, although we do not claim this as apart of our invention. VP attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of our improved scaffold, showing the guard up and in position; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, showing the guard by dotted lines in its re 5 cumbent position. Figs. 3 and 4 show. re-

spectively front and side elevations of the clamp and pivoting device.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

0 A is a bifurcated saddle-piece or clamp, which is held tightly in position by the bolt a on the longitudinal beam B of the scaffold 0. Through the upper part of this clamp is provided a hole, b, into which is screwed a pin, a, on which the large end (I of the guard E 5 pivots.

D is a pin strongly fastened to or made a part of the clamp A. This pin is the means by which the upward throw of the guard E is limited, and, in conjunction with the loose pin e, which is inserted through the holefof the clamp A, holds the guard E in an upright and rigid position.

Instead of the loose pin 6, any other analogous device may be used to hold theguard E 6 in an upright position.

Our guard can be constructed in any desired manner or form; but that shown in the accompanying drawings is the one we prefer, as it combines lightness with strength and 7 means of suspending the workmens tools. The scaffold, as before mentioned, is com; posed of the longitudinal beams B, joined by the rungs or cross-pieces g, on which is supported the flooringplanks h h.

WVhat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination of a scaffold-platform and the hinged guard Ealong one edge thereof, the clamp A. pin D, and the loose pin 0, 81 forming the means whereby the guard E can be supported in a perpendicular position or be folded into a horizontal position, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the pivoted guard E, 81 clamp A, and pin D, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a scaffold-platform, clamps arranged along the beam forming one margin thereof, and a guard-frame hinged to c the said clamps, in combination with stops which permit the guard to be folded upon the platform or be raised perpendicular thereto, and means whereby the guard can be held in the perpendicular position, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. BIROK. WILLIAM FISCHER.

. Witnesses:

HENRY L. BREVOORT, GEORGE W. BOROHERS. 

